Concerns over Winter Energy Price Surge

winter is coming... and with it, a cold reality

the cost to heat  your home is expected to skyrokect 

"you know, missed a payment, Next thing you know, the power was off"

Kirsten Blom-Westbrook’s family was among 20 million American households behind on their utility bills - the highest on record,  according to  The National Energy Assistant Directors Association

And the problem is only getting worse

The organizations says  families are expected to pay an average of 17.2% more for home heat this coming season, compared to last winter

"Energy inflation is leading inflation overall. This is not normal"

Energy prices are on the rise in part becasue of the repeated heat waves that backed much of the US this summer

, worsening the already strained levels of natural gas reserves

NEADA Executive Director Mark Wolfe says the spike will force families to make difficult decision between paying for food,medicine and rent.

"We're seeing numbers for middle income families go higher. And many of thos families also are on the very tight budgets"

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is now asking congress for an additional 5 billion dollars to help low income families.

• skyrocket : 치솟다
• behind on one's utility bills : 공공요금이 연체된
• heat wave : 폭염
• strain : 악화시키다
• medicine : 약
• rent : 임대료
• be on a tight budget : 재정적으로 빠듯하게 지내다

https://cnn.ybmnet.co.kr/cnn_class/2553